BDS Panel: Palestinian Rights and the First Amendment

The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to build international support for Palestinian rights by ending of Israel’s occupation and colonization of Palestinian land and the Golan Heights, granting full equality for the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and creating respect for the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

The backlash against the nonviolent, global BDS movement has been especially strong here in California with Governor Jerry Brown’s recent signing of Assembly Bill 2844, designed to prevent state agencies from establishing contracts with companies that boycott Israel.

Opponents have called the anti-BDS bill both an attack on the constitutional rights of Californians and a waste of taxpayer money.

Panelists will outline the history of the BDS movement, discuss the worsening plight of Palestinians, and explore how First Amendment rights are undermined through attempts to stymie the BDS movement.

Rabab Abdulhadi is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies/Race and Resistance Studies and the Senior Scholar of the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Initiative, at the College of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University.

Estee Chandler is the Los Angeles Organizer for Jewish Voice for Peace. Producer/Co-host Middle East in Focus, KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles

Chelsea Byers works with the rebel-rousers at Beautiful Trouble to coordinate a creative action training program and supports campaigns for peace and demilitarization with CODEPINK: Women for Peace.

Henry “Hank” Jones is a former political prisoner and member of the Black Panther Party, who was recently targeted for political prosecution as one of the San Francisco 8.

Paul McDermott, moderator, is a board member of the ACLU-SoCal Pasadena/Foothills Chapter.

The event is free and open to the public. For more info, contact Joanna Amador, ACLU SoCal Pasadena/Foothills Chapter, 626.427.7950 or chap-pasadena@aclusocal.org.